CAMPING TO LAKE SOMERVILLE

Hello Den 4!

 

Plans for Somerville are getting finalized. We hope you can make the camping trip. I think this will be one of our best outings yet! With all the training that our leaders have received lately, we are ready to implement a lot of fun stuff for our kids. For details, visit the Pack Blog at www.cubpack696.blogspot.com.

 

I'll DO MY BEST to leave home by 4:30 after the kids get home from school so we can get to the camp site and have the banner up to identify where the camp sites are located. Travel time shows to be 2.5 hours from Dickinson to the Park (Houston traffic might slow you down). Will anyone be there earlier in the day? If so, I can hand off the banner and flags to you.

 

Joe is going to have a biking event for the Cubs. Please have your Cub bring a bike, or a scooter if they don't have a bike. If you are having difficulty carrying a bike, let me know. I have a bike rack and many of our Akelas have trucks that can carry a bike. Also, your cub needs to bring a helmet, as its required. In addition, elbow pads and knee pads are definitely suggested. If you have a truck and can help carry bikes, please let us know. Giving Good Will is part of the Cub Scout Law of the Pack! We appreciate any help you can give.

 

Please have your Cub bring his Class A uniform for our Flag Ceremonies. The Cubs who wear their Class A's can be on Color Guard Duty for the ceremony. After the ceremony, they can take off their Class A, hang it in your car, and wear their Cub Scout t-shirt. Also, I am bringing material for us to make our own Den 4 flag this weekend.

 

Friday is a free day to get your campsite set up once you arrive. Sunday is also a free day, as its pack up day. Here is a quick view at what's happening on Saturday (note the schedule can and probably will change as the day unfolds)...

 

SATURDAY EVETS

 

8:00 am - Family Breakfast

9:30 am - Flag Ceremony (Need volunteer?)

10:00 am - Gather for Fishing or Biking (Joe leads)

Noon - Family Lunch

1:30 pm - Gather for Fishing or Biking (Joe leads)

4:00 pm - Cubs work on skits, flags, etc for campfire (Need volunteer?)

5:00 pm - Gather for Evening Hike (Robert leads)

6:00 pm - Flag Ceremony (Need volunteer?)

6:30 pm - Family Dinner

8:30 pm - Campfire and Cracker Barrel (All Leaders)

10:00 pm - Quiet time

 

Other camp activities can fall into place as they become available.

 

5:00 pm Hike Details - The families will go on a hike. However, with a twist...each scout will have an eye patch and an arm in a sling. This will allow them to see what its like to live with an impairment. After the hike, they will keep the impairments through the closing flag ceremony and dinner and will not remove them until we gather at the campfire. That means they will wear them for about 3 hours or so. At the campfire, the scouts will remove the impairments and discuss the challenges and experiences they had, and how they need to be aware of others that have impairments.

 

For the campfire, Den 4 put together the following...

 

1. 8:30 pm, Start the fire and start the Dutch Ovens with Dump Cake.

 

2. Sing Songs - Be loud to get attention of all cubs to join the fire.

 

3. Den Cheer - Den 4 has their cheer ready!

 

4. Cubs talk about their impairments.

 

5. Skits/Jokes/Spooky Stories - Dens can work on this Saturday. I'll bring a book of skits and stories. It doesn't have to be by Den if we don't have enough Cubs. Also the Leaders and Akelas need to do a skit  and tell some stories to get the Cubs in the groove. ;-)

 

6. 9:30 ish - Cracker Barrel and hang out time - During this time the Cubs can make smores and eat Dump Cake. Make sure you bring stuff for smores. I'll be cooking the dump cake in my Dutch oven

 

7. Roses and Thorns - By this time, the fire is starting to die down. The boys talk about something they didn't like (thorns), and finish with something they did like (roses). Its boy time.

 

8. Leader Minute - This is for any of the Leaders that want to say something ;-) The leader can finish the night with a profound statement or two about cub scouting, what the boys did for the day, etc. More than one leader can talk.

 

9. Quiet Time - Probably around 9:30 to 10:00 pm or so by now. By this time, the fire dies down, and its off to sleep. If the Cubs stay up, which I'm sure they will want to do, then they have to stay quite and not add to the fire. The key is to get them to wind down and get to bed. When the fire is out, they will be cold and want to get under cover. ;-)

 

Sunday Morning, we can have another flag ceremony after breakfast. I'll take the flags home, so I'll have the closing ceremony after my family finishes packing to leave.

 

It will be cold! Bring warm blankets, electric heaters, etc. I think our boys can earn their polar bear patch if it freezes overnight!!

 

If you don't have a tent, let me know. We can figure something out! Please come join us. If equipment is the problem, then no problem. Call me, text me, or email me! 832.534.0625. robertmbragg@yahoo.com.

 

THIS WILL BE ONE ROCKING CAMP OUT!

 

Robert M. Bragg

Pack 696

Den 4 Wolf Den Leader

DEN 4 MEETING UPDATES!!

Here is an update to our upcoming Den 4 Wolf Scout Meeting Schedule...REMEMBER THAT DATES CAN CHANGE.

If your Wolf is the Denner or Assistant Denner, please be preparred to assist with the den activities for that day.

February Dates.

2/2/13 - #9: Tools for Fixing and Building (Home Depot-9am) - COMPLETED

2/6/13 - #10: Birds - Caiden G. - Tristan - COMPLETED

2/7/13 - ROUNDTABLE - Parents Wanted!

2/9/13 - #9 2nd Chance: Tools for Fixing and Building (Lowe's - 10:00 am)

2/10/13 - SCOUT SUNDAY

2/1-/13 - DISTRICT BANQUET

2/12/13 - #11: Making Choices - Denner Ryan - Assistant Denner Lucas

2/14/13 - PARENT MEETING - PARENTS WANTED

2/16/13 - BLUE AND GOLD

2/19/13 - #12: Books, Books, Books - Denner Ryan - Assistant Denner Diego

2/22/13 - 2/24/13 - FINAL WOODBADGE WEEKEND (Robert out of Town)

March - Possible Upcoming dates (Spring Break Dates 
3/5/13 - #13: Pets - Tristan - Caiden
3/7/13 - ROUNDTABLE - Parents wanted!!

3/11/13 - SPRING BREAK WEEK - NO DEN MEETINGS

3/19/13 - #14: American Indian Lore - Caden Allen - Tony
3/21/13 - PARENT MEETING - PARENTS WANTED

3/26/13 - PACK MEETING!!

April - Possible Upcoming dates

4/2/13 - #15: Marbles - Caden Allen - Anthony

4/4//13 - ROUNDTABLE - Parents wanted!!

4/9/13 - #16: Outdoor Adventure and Fishing - Ryan - Anthony

4/11/13 - PARENT MEETING - PARENTS WANTED

4/16/13 - Elective Den Meeting

4/23/13 - Elective Den Meeting

4/30/13 - PACK MEETING!!

BUILD-IT PHOTOS

Wolf Den 4 had a Fantastic Time today at the Home Depot Build-It Workshop! The Wolves built and painted Valentine Card holders.

If you and your Wolf couldn't make it, don't worry. You can attend next Saturday at Lowe's from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm!

Next month, Home Depot will have race cars to build. Home Depot holds their Build-It workshop on the first Saturday of every month, while Lowe's holds theirs on the 2nd Saturday of every month. Plenty of opportunity for some Build It fun!

Check out the photos below!




Ryan Nix with his parents Russel and Diane ==== >

Ryan had a great time building and painting his card holder. He used a sanding pad to get the wood smooth and ready for painting. He had hands on assistance from his mom and dad, and after some fancy hammering, he did an awesome job painting his card holder.

< =====  Akela Julie (Tristan's mom) helping the entire gang, including Tristan (left side), Lucas, Bailey (Lucas' Sis) and Aaron (Lucas' Bro).

Tristan and Lucas had expert assistance from Julie as she showed them all the perfect techniques to use from sanding, nailing and painting! Tristan and Lucas used blues and greens on their card holder.











Caiden Grosenheider, with his   ======== >
Dad Jon, and his little bro.

Caiden did an awesome job, and had lots of
expert advice from his tool master dad. The end result
was an excellent gift ready for their mom. Way to
go Caiden!!

< ====== Lucas' little sis and bro - Bailey and Aaron - joined
 in the fun.

Bailey and Aaron got help from me (Robert Bragg) in building their card holders. I think they had the most fun with painting...and making a mess! ;-)

The final projects!!!  ============ >

Do you have any photos you want to share on this blog? If so, email them to me at robertmbragg@yahoo.com and I'll add them in.

BUILD-IT TIME!!

Hello Den 4 Wolf Akelas!

If you didn't make the last den meeting, then you probably don't know about the exciting time we have planned for your Wolf Scout this Saturday and next Saturday.  Hopefully, your Wolf can make both events. If not, please help him to attend at least one of them.

• Saturday, February 2, 2013 - Build-It Workshop at Home Depot (I-45 and 646) from 9 am to noon.

• Saturday, February 9, 2013 - Build-It Workshop at Lowe's (I-45 and 646) from 10:00 am to 1pm.

Your cub can wear any clothes he likes. If he wears his uniform, then he will get credit for the treasure box.

PREP FOR DEN MEETING #8

Hello Akelas,

Our Wolves had some home projects to work on to prep for Den Meeting #8. Here is a quick review. See you tonight at 6:30 at the Methodist Church...

This week, our Cubs have a few activities to complete at home, as follows...

1. Complete Achievement 4e - Fill out the Chore Sheet from our previous Den Meeting #6, and bring to the next Den Meeting #8. For a copy of the Chore Sheet, click here and look at the last page.

2. Complete Achievement 7e - With an adult, find three stories that tell how people are protecting our world. Read and discuss them together. We will discuss these at the next Den Meeting. Cubs can look over their past Boys Life magazines to find the stories, or look at the website www.epa.gov/students.

3. Complete Achievement 6b - Begin a collection starting with 10 items and arrange them neatly. Cubs can use an egg carton to keep the items arranged. Have your cub bring the 10 items to the next Den meeting.

4. Complete Achievement 8c, 8d, and 8e - 8c is "Help fix at least one meal for your family. Help set the table, cook the food, and wash the dishes". 8d is "Fix your own breakfast. Wash and put away the dishes." 8e is "With an adult, help to plan and prepare and cook an outdoor meal. Please have your cub work on these activities this week. We will discuss this at Den Meeting #8.

DEN MEETING 7 - RESULTS AND HOME ACTIVITES

Hello Den 4 Akelas,

We had a fantastic Den Meeting on Tuesday. We went through our Den Meeting #7 activities. Anthony was our Denner and Tristan substituted as our Assistant Denner.

We started by discussing the "Good Turn" and the origins of Boy Scouts in America. You can learn more about this concept at  www.goodturnforamerica.org.

We then worked on Achievement 7a, having the cubs answer the following questions: What things have people done to show a lack of respect to our world; Why is it important to respect our environment and natural resources; and How can you show respect for your environment?

We moved on to complete 7b (how land, air, and water can get dirty), 7c (recycling), and 7f (ways to save energy). We then had fun tieing knots, and completed electives 17a and 17b. For a step by step guide on how to tie knots, visit www.meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Knots.

After closing out the meeting, we took the opportunity to take some of the cubs out to the back parking lot to show them the location of the paper recycling bins and the garbage bins. After that, they were dismissed.

This week, our Cubs have a few activities to complete at home, as follows...

1. Complete Achievement 4e - Fill out the Chore Sheet from our previous Den Meeting #6, and bring to the next Den Meeting #8. For a copy of the Chore Sheet, click here and look at the last page.

2. Complete Achievement 7e - With an adult, find three stories that tell how people are protecting our world. Read and discuss them together. We will discuss these at the next Den Meeting. Cubs can look over their past Boys Life magazines to find the stories, or look at the website www.epa.gov/students.

3. Complete Achievement 6b - Begin a collection starting with 10 items and arrange them neatly. Cubs can use an egg carton to keep the items arranged. Have your cub bring the 10 items to the next Den meeting.

4. Complete Achievement 8c, 8d, and 8e - 8c is "Help fix at least one meal for your family. Help set the table, cook the food, and wash the dishes". 8d is "Fix your own breakfast. Wash and put away the dishes." 8e is "With an adult, help to plan and prepare and cook an outdoor meal. Please have your cub work on these activities this week. We will discuss this at Den Meeting #8.

THANKS AKELAS!

ROBERT M. BRAGG
PACK 696 WOLF DEN LEADER

REVISED WOLF DEN 4 MEETING SCHEDULE

Here is an update to our upcoming Den 4 Wolf Scout Meeting Schedule. NO JANUARY PACK MEETING.

January
1/1/13 - NEW YEARS DAY – no den meeting.  (COMPLETED)
1/5/13 – Pinewood Construction Day  (COMPLETED)
1/8/13 – Prep for Pinewood Derby Den Meeting   (COMPLETED)
1/12/13 – Pinewood Derby Day!!  ITS RACE DAY!!  (COMPLETED)

1/15/13 - Den Meeting - Reviewed our past achievements  (COMPLETED)
1/22/13 - #7: Your Living World and Tie It Right.  (COMPLETED)

1/29/12 – NO pack meeting. DEN MEETING INSTEAD!
1/29/13 - #8: Cooking and Eating and Start a Collection - Tony - Caiden G.

February - Possible dates.
2/5/13 - #9: Tools for Fixing and Building - Caiden G. - Lucas
2/12/13 - #10: Birds - Caiden G. - Tristan
2/19/13 - #11: Making Choices - Andrew – Ryan
2/26/13 – PACK MEETING

March
TBD - #12: Books, Books, Books - Ryan - Andrew
TBD - #13: Pets - Tristan - Caiden
TBD - #14: American Indian Lore - Caden Allen - Tony
TBD - #15: Marbles - Caden Allen - Anthony
TBD - #16: Outdoor Adventure and Fishing - Ryan - Anthony